Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Rubberweed, bitter
Né’éshjaa’yilkee’é
(a.k.a. Rubberweed)

Underside of flower showing green involucre and trilobate petals

Rubberweed is native to the southwest United States. It grows in a variety of habitats, including rangelands and riverine areas. It is toxic to livestock, particularly sheep. Cattle will eat it when other green feed is not available. Toxicity increases with maturity of the plant. The plants grow to a height of two feet in a moundlike form. Flowers have a diameter of 3/8 to 1/2 inch.

Pingue is similar to rubberweed.

*Description courtesy of Western New Mexico University's Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness.

Yellow rays and brighter yellow disks
Moundlike growth habit

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